Hi there, and welcome to the Urch forums. You're free to browse around our forum; almost all of our content is available to read, even if you're not a member. However, to download anything, send personal messages, ask a question, etc., you'll need to create an account. Don't worry, it's fast and easy, and we won't spam you.

To get started, why not ask a question? Just go to the forum you want to make a post in, and then click on the button that says "Post New Thread". (At our forum and other forums, too, questions, conversations, discussions, etc., are called "threads". Yes, that can be a bit confusing.)

Feedback on Argument Essay for GRE

Sponsored Ad:

Woven baskets characterized by a particular distinctive pattern have previously been found only in the immediate vicinity of the prehistoric village of Palea and therefore were believed to have been made only by the Palean people. Recently, however, archaeologists discovered such a "Palean" basket in Lithos, an ancient village across the Brim River from Palea. The Brim River is very deep and broad, and so the ancient Paleans could have crossed it only by boat, and no Palean boats have been found. Thus it follows that the so-called Palean baskets were not uniquely Palean.

Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument.

Archaeologists are very familiar with history slowly revealing itself throughout numerous excavations. Yet, given this, the author makes assumptions to claim that Palean woven baskets are not uniquely Palean.

To begin with, the author assumes that because no boat was found, that one doesn't exist. It may be that the boat has not yet been uncovered,or that the boat has been destroyed over time through natural processeslike erosion. In addition, the author also assumes that the the Brim River has remained the same in depth and broadness. It is unclear whether the Brim River as maintained the same dimensions that existed in the era of the Palean and Lithos people. Perhaps the author could provide a geological analysis of the Brim River and its history to support the necessity of boat transportion.

In addition, the author also assumes that the distinctive pattern was not uniquely Palean simply because it was found in another city. It could have been that the Paleans migrated to Lithos and resided among the Lithos people. History has shown us that human migration is a natural occurence, and that artifacts in one region has its origins in another. The Paleans could have shared their pattern over time while amalgamating with the Lithos people.

Although the author justifies their position with some facts, there seems still to be missing parts of the puzzle.